Fourth toxic substance found in private Sherborn wells

Wednesday

May 2, 2012 at 12:01 AMMay 2, 2012 at 2:19 AM

Trace levels of a fourth toxic substance was detected in tap water samples from two Sherborn homes downstream of General Chemical Corp., a result the lab did not initially report, the state Department of Environmental Protection said on May 1.

Staff reports

Trace levels of a fourth toxic substance was detected in tap water samples from two Sherborn homes downstream of General Chemical Corp., a result the lab did not initially report, the state Department of Environmental Protection said on May 1.

The DEP recently said their precautionary tests revealed very minute, trace amounts of the toxin known as PCE, as well as chloroform and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MtBE), in two private drinking water wells on the Framingham town line. One home is on Meadowbrook Road and the other is on Prospect Street.

DEP spokesman Ed Coletta said it turns out there was also trace amounts of 1,4 dioxane, which is used in cosmetics, shampoos and laundry detergent, in the water at a home on Meadowbrook Road and one on Coolidge Street. The two are among the Sherborn homes closest to a plume of contaminated groundwater surrounding General Chemical on Leland Street in Framingham.

The levels of 1,4 dioxane, estimated at 80 and 89 parts per trillion, are well below the health guideline of 300 parts per trillion, and do not pose a health concern, Coletta said.

He said the toxin is present in the General Chemical plume, but that it's very conceivable that products flushed down the toilet and leached out of the septic system polluted the drinking water.

PCE is the only other of the four toxic that could be traced back to the plume, but the DEP said there are other likely explanations for its presence in the drinking water.